Marilyn Behrens

Marilyn Behrens, age 83, of Park Rapids, MN, formerly of Graceville, MN, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Crystal Brook Assisted Living in Park Rapids, MN.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Chokio, MN. Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Pastor Dave Christenson will officiate, and interment will be at Chokio Lutheran Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Marilyn Jean (Zimmerman) Behrens was born in Morris, MN, on December 17, 1940, to Paul and Mary (Buntje) Zimmerman, the second of five children. She was baptized on January 5, 1941, at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Chokio, MN. Marilyn spent most of her childhood in Leonardsville Township near Graceville, MN. She attended grades one through six at District #19 in Traverse County. Graduating from Graceville High School with the Class of 1958, Marilyn was honored to be elected Homecoming Queen. After graduation, she attended the Minnesota School of Business earning a Medical Secretary degree in July of 1959. Marilyn worked at Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis, MN, for three years before coming back home to marry the love of her life, Melvin Behrens on September 8, 1962. They made their home on a farm in Traverse County for 52 and a half years. They had three beautiful children: Cheryl, David, and Brian.

Marilyn was a lifelong homemaker who greatly enjoyed time spent with her family and friends. She loved a good card party and was a wonderful, gracious hostess as well as an accomplished baker. She loved to spend time in the kitchen making all the family favorites. If you have never had a bar of Marilyn’s, you really missed out. Her bars were legendary in her family and many recipes were given out. She enjoyed shopping for herself and her family and was a social butterfly. Marilyn and Mel liked to travel and went on several bus trip adventures. They also enjoyed a good casino outing with friends. She was a life-long member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Chokio, where she taught Sunday School for many years, and took part in Our Savior’s Women and Mission Action. But most of all, Marilyn loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to have the grandkids at the farm. She appreciated their help in picking apples, harvesting the garden, watering the flowers, hosting tea parties, feeding the kittens, collecting the eggs, and many more fun activities. She was always ready with a hug, a treat, and to play a game. She was a very involved grandma and enjoyed watching basketball, skating, swimming, and whatever else her grandchildren were in. She was their biggest fan. In later years, she stayed in contact with them by learning to text and on Facebook (they were her tech support). Her ready smile and positive attitude will be greatly missed by all who love her, and there were many.

Marilyn is survived by her two sons: David (Val) of Waconia, MN; and Brian (Jodi) of Park Rapids, MN; her son-in-law, Jon Hormann of Cologne, MN; her grandchildren: Parker (Donna) Hormann, Peyton (Hailey) Hormann, Zachary Behrens, Brenna Behrens, Connor Behrens, and Mason Behrens; great-grandchildren: Hamilton and Oliver Hormann; siblings: Robert (Kathy) Zimmerman of Friendswood, TX; Delroy (Kathy) Zimmerman of Fergus Falls, MN; and Collette (Bill) Cox of Fergus Falls, MN; sister-in-law, Arlene Zimmerman of Park Rapids, MN; and many doting nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Melvin; her cherished daughter, Cheryl Hormann; her parents; and her brother, Earl Zimmerman.